Imagine a world where you can cross international borders without stopping — securely, smoothly, and without handing over your passport. No more queues. No more delays. Just a seamless, biometric-based experience that keeps people moving and borders secure.
Welcome to CarMen – a bold new Horizon Europe research project that’s reshaping the way we think about border control.
CarMen stands for Contactless Multimodal Biometric Border Control for Secure and Efficient Border Crossing. It’s an innovative initiative funded by the European Union, focused on developing a non-stop border control system using advanced biometric technologies and AI-powered identity verification.
The goal is simple but ambitious: to make border checks faster, safer, and smarter — without compromising privacy or security.
Border agencies across Europe are facing unprecedented challenges: increased travel volumes, rising security threats, stricter EU regulations and travelers demanding smoother, contactless journeys
Traditional border checks are no longer sustainable. That’s why CarMen is designing a walk- and drive-through system that verifies your identity on the move, using state-of-the-art biometric recognition.
All of this happens in motion and in full compliance with European data protection laws.
Biometric systems often raise important questions about privacy. CarMen takes this seriously. It is being developed using privacy-by-design principles. Your data stays secure — and your rights stay protected.
CarMen is powered by a consortium of leading European partners, who together bring a multidisciplinary approach to one of Europe’s most important mobility challenges.
In the coming months, CarMen will be piloted at selected border locations across Europe. These real-world trials will test the technology’s performance, safety, usability, and public acceptance.
We’ll be sharing updates as we go.
Whether you’re a policymaker, tech provider, border official, or just a curious traveler, CarMen is a project for you. Follow our progress and join the conversation on the future of border management.